Chris Downey

Along quiet rural roads in Ireland, small unattended "honesty shelves" offer fresh eggs, bread, fruit, vegetables, honey, and other local produce. There are no cashiers or staff on site. Customers simply take what they need and leave payment in an honesty box. The system operates largely on trust between farmers and the local community.

The Embassy of Ukraine to Ireland expresses its serious concern regarding the continued export of alumina from Ireland to the Russian Federation. According to a trade data, this troubling trade flow has increased significantly, with exports rising from €196 million in 2021 to €318 million in 2025, positioning the Russian Federation as the largest destination for Irish alumina exports and surpassing traditional European partners. This represents the highest level of exports to Russia since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These figures raise serious concerns, as alumina remains a critical raw material for the production of aluminium, which is extensively used by Russia’s military-industrial complex. Aluminium is used in the manufacture of a wide range of Russian military systems, including Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as Shahed-136/Geran-2 attacks unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The devastating consequences of Russia’s military production continue to be felt daily by the people of Ukraine. Over the past week alone, the Russian Federation has launched more than 2,900 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and more than 150 missiles of various types against Ukrainian cities and communities. Every activity may contribute to sustaining Russia’s industrial and military capacity warrants careful examination. The Embassy takes note of the ongoing investigation being conducted by the relevant Irish authorities and welcomes the Irish Government’s commitment to establishing all relevant facts. We look forward to the timely conclusion of this process and to any measures deemed necessary on the basis of its findings. Ukraine fully recognises the importance of protecting jobs, communities, and industrial competitiveness in Ireland and across the European Union. At the same time, Russia’s continued war of aggression requires constant vigilance to ensure that commercial activities do not directly or indirectly contribute to sustaining the military capabilities of a state engaged in a brutal and unprovoked war against a sovereign European nation. Ukraine highly values its strong partnership with Ireland and deeply appreciates the steadfast support and solidarity demonstrated by the Irish Government and the Irish people since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. We count on Ireland’s continued leadership in supporting Ukraine, strengthening the effectiveness of international sanctions, and ensuring that European resources, technologies, and supply chains cannot be exploited to sustain Russia’s war machine. The Embassy of Ukraine remains committed to constructive engagement with Irish partners on this important issue in the shared interests of European security, international law, and accountability.

Illegal migrants in the EU must be returned to their home countries swiftly and efficiently. That’s the basis of the agreement reached yesterday on the EU’s new migration rules 📜

A new-build housing estate in Dublin, full to the brim with Africans partying.

The tongue of a woodpecker wraps around its skull to protect its brain while pecking

Ireland is the most pro-EU nation in Europe. 93% of Irish people agree that the country has benefited from being a member of the European Union, while only 5% disagree. We recognise that this country couldn't have become the success it is today without EU membership. 🇮🇪🇪🇺